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Dental Health Overview

Dental Health Overview

Most pediatric dentists will agree that regular dental care should begin by 1 year of age, with a dental check-up at least twice each year after for most children. Some children may need more frequent evaluations and care. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends the following:

Birth to 6 months of age

Clean the infant's mouth with gauze or use a soft infant toothbrush after feedings and at bedtime.

Consult your child's pediatrician or pediatric dentist regarding fluoride supplements, if you live in an area without fluoridated water.

Also ask about fluoride varnish, which is applied to the teeth.

Regulate feeding habits (bottle-feeding and breastfeeding).

Six to 12 months of age

During this time, the first tooth should appear. Consult a pediatric dentist for an exam.

Brush teeth after each feeding and at bedtime with a small, soft-bristled brush and a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste, about the size of a grain of rice.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk for at least 6 months. The AAPD recommends breastfeeding for at least 1 year. At about 1 year, continue to breastfeed or begin weaning as you and your baby are ready. But also start giving your baby whole milk. The fat in whole milk is needed for proper brain development.

1 to 3 years of age

Follow the schedule of dental exams and cleanings, as recommended by your child's pediatric dentist. Generally, dental exams and cleanings are recommended every 6 months for children and adults.

At about age 3, as your child learns to rinse and spit, brushing with a pea-sized portion of fluoridated toothpaste is appropriate, in most cases.

Facts about baby teeth

Proper care of a child's "baby" or primary teeth is very important, as these teeth hold space for the future eruption of permanent teeth.

If a baby tooth decays or is removed too early, the space necessary for the permanent teeth is lost and can only be regained through orthodontic treatment.

Most children begin losing their baby teeth around the ages of 5 or 6, with usually the front teeth first. They continue to lose baby teeth until the age of 12 or 13 when all of the permanent teeth finally come through, except for the third molars (wisdom teeth). These molars begin to appear around the ages of 17 to 21.

Diet and dental care for children

The AAPD recommends the following to ensure your child eats correctly to maintain a healthy body and teeth: